Student scores on standardized tests are down in most subjects in Missouri.

Statewide figures released Tuesday by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education show that fewer students scored "proficient" or better this year on tests for communication arts, mathematics and science, compared to last year. The only overall improvement was in social studies.

The decline comes after several years of general improvement in student test scores.

The Kansas City school district has released a school-improvement plan that was developed with a local coalition.

The plan's submission Tuesday to the State Board of Education comes one day after a consultant released a competing proposal. The consultant's plan calls for a state-run entity to recruit community groups and educators to operate schools in failing districts.

Unlike that proposal, the new plan calls for the unaccredited Kansas City districts to be designated as provisionally accredited. That would stop students from taking advantage of a state law to transfer to accredited schools. Instead, schools would be accredited individually.